Mechanical time-switch for x-ray systems.



W. A. WINTER & R. KLETT. MECHANICAL TIME SWITGH FOR X- Y SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2'], 1914.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

, l/Vl/E/VTORS 0 WAWINTEP x WITNESSES v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A.

WINTER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND ROBERT KLETT, OF NEW YORK, N.Y., ASSIGNOR-S TO KNY-SCHEERER COMPANY.

iaeaeca.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. as, rare.

Application filed March 27, 1914'. Serial No. 827,620.

To all whom it may concern .Be it known that we, WILLIAM A. WIN',

man, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, NewJersey, and R BERT KLETT, a resident of 1680 Clay avenue, in the boroughof the Bronx, New York, N. Y., a' subject of the Emperor of Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Time-Switches for X-Ray Systems, as set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to time switches and especially to those of atype serviceable in timing the length of exposure in X-ray work. Muchmore accurate and reliable results in X-ray photography can be obtainedby exposures throughout definite time-intervals, which are accuratelymeasured instead of throughout time intervals subject to guess.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a time switchfulfilling the needs in connection with X-ray work and providing for theclosing of the circuit at the will of the operator and the breaking ofthe said circuit after a predetermined time interval, which may bevaried at the will of the operator.

In furtherance of the general object of' the invention there iscontemplated a cooperating pointer and scale divided into timegraduations, through the medium of which the time switch maybe set tofix the duration of circuit closure to, the time interval designated onthe scale by the pointer. In the makeup of the mechanism there is alsoprovision for setting the time switch for the predetermined timeinterval independently of the means actually employed for closing thecircuit.

The objects and general advantages of the invention will be set forthmore. fully in the following claims, which claims should be read inconnection with the illustrative embodiment of the invention describedin the following specification and shown inthe accompanyingdrawmgs-whichform a part of this application in which like characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several figures and in which Figure 1is a front elevation ofthe switch; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thesame; Fig.3 is a vertical section along the line IIIIII of Fig. 2; andFig. 4 is a similar section along the line IV-IV of Fig.2, and Fig. 5

is an enlarged section through the line V-V of Fig. 1. I

Referring now more in detail to the drawings of the illustrativeembodiment, a base is indicated by A in the form of a slab of suitableinsulating material such as slate or transite. Four spacing legs Bsuitably secured to the base A serve to mount a face plateC, the faceplate being shown secured to the legs B by screw D. A dial E is formedon the face plate C and is graduated into suitable time intervals. Thegraduations shown are from 0.1 to 2.0 seconds in space of one-tenthsecond. The pointer F,

operated by the handle 1 is mounted to rotate about the stud 2,concentric withthe dial E. Through the medium of the stud 2, which worksin the bearing 3 mounted on the face plate C, the pointer F is'rigidlyconnected with the forked arm 4 10-, cated back of the face plate C andcon strained to rotate commensurately with the pointer F- Mounted uponthe base A in a suitable manner is a frame G which serves as themounting for a gear train H. The gear train H is driven by the spring.motor I the tension of which may be adjusted through the medium of thewinding spindle J upon which the spring I is wound and which carries aratchet 4 cooperating with the pawl 5, fixed to the gear 6. The gear 6meshes with the pinion 7 fastened on the shaft 8 and through themediumof the shaft 8' rigidly connected to drive the gearn9. The gear 9drives an escapement 10 through the medium of the pinion '11. Suitablykeyed to a forward extension of the shaft 8 is a disk K provided withnotches L at its periphery, and serving as a time element of the switch.

Mounted on the forward portion 13 of the frame G through the medium'ofthe p vot hinge 14 is a bell cranklever 15 the right angular offset arm16 of which is in the path of the pin 17 fixed to the time element ornotched disk .K. The pressure of the pm 17 againstlthearm 16 issufficient to hold the end of the arm 16 against the stop 18 and toovercome the tension of the spring 19, which tends to close the contact20 against the contact 21 so that their silver tips 22 and 23 makeelectrical connection one with another. Thecontact 21 is electricallyconnected with the terminal post24 which 1s suitably insulated from themetallic frame G. These parts 15, 16, 19, 20, 21 and 24 constitute acircuit closer M.

An ,electrically conductive post 25 has N pivoted to it the lever 26which is normally spring operated by the tension spring 27 to force thetrigger 28 against the rear face of the notched disk K or into one ofthe notches L. Fixedalso to the same end of the lever 26 is a silvercontact disk 29 which cooperates with the similar contact. disk 30electrically connected with the terminal post 31 which is mounted uponbut insulated from the plate 13 of the frame G. Later- 5 ally offsetfrom the lever arm 26 is a lip 32 head 37 to retain the parts.

The lever 26, contact 29, contact and terminalpost 31 constitute asecond circuit closer which is electrically connected with the firstcircuit closer M through the medium of'the frame G to which the post 25is 30 secured.

Connection between the operating handle 1 and the notched disk K isprovided though the medium of the stud P which is fixed to the disk Kand is straddled by the $5 forked end of the arm 4.

With all parts innormal position and the pointer F pointing to zero thecircuit between the two terminal posts 24 and 31 is .broken attwo'points, z. 6., at each of the 40 open circuit closers M and O. Therotation of the pointer F in a clockwise direction causes the disk K totravel in a similar direction. The stud 17 is withdrawn from the leverarm whereupon the circuit closer M closes. The trigger 28 isprogressively pressed into the notches L which correspond to thegraduations on the dial E, until no' further rotation is given to thepointer F- by'the operator. Th'ereupon the trigger 28 comes to rest inone of the notches L in which position it is held by the spring 27. Theswitch is now set to maintain a circuit closure for the predeterminedinterval at the will of the operator. The rear walls of the notches Lform detents which coiiperate with the trigger 28 to hold the timeelement set ready to be released by pressure on the push button N.

When it is desired actually to make the exposure the push button Nis-pushed in.

The spring 34 is designed to yield considerably before disengagement oftrigger 28 from the disk is'efl'ected. As soon as the trigger ,u-s 28.disengages the disk K the spring 34 causes an instantaneous closurebetween the contacts 29 and"3 .fa11d- ,so' that the circuit closer Oisheld closedas long as the push button N is pressed in by the operator.

The second and-final closure in the circuit through the switch-istherefore efifectedcontemporaneously with the release of the timeelement K. When the time element has completed its predetermined travelthe pin 17, striking the am 16, opens the. first circuit closer Mto-break the circuit and terminate the period of exposure. As soon asthe ;pu sh'button N is released the second opening in the operatingcircuit is again made. By the reason of the two openings at the twocircuit closures-in the exposure circuit, premature. exposures. areprevented. and moreli efiicient" electrical control is obtained.' 1Q rl, The. .clockwisenrotation of thedisk K. drives the gear train.H'jaga'inst the force of". the spring'I-andTwhen the disk K isreleasedthe spring I ieturns the diskK to its "normal position. Theescapemehti 10 serves as .a

, governor more a' cc irat ely toccntrolthe tim ing of the movingfparts.I

\Vhat is claimedand what is desired to be secured by United 'StatesLettersgPatent is:

1 In a time-switch, two normally open y circuit-closers seriesconnection; a mov able time element; means for'setting said time elementto operate, whenlreleased,

through any one of various time-intervals,- comprising a series ofdetents and an engage ing trigger, each detent corresponding' to one ofsaid various time-intervals; means operable upon the setting of saidtime element for closing one of said circuit-closers; means forsimultaneously releasing said time-element and closing said secondcircuit closer;.and means for opening said first circuit closer after apredetermined time interval through the medium of said time element.

2. In a time-switch, a movable time element capable of being set totravel, when released, through any one of various predetermined timeintervals and having a series of detents,- one for each time-interval;an elec tric circuit; means for simultaneously releasing said timeelement and closing said circuit; and means automatically operated atthe "completion of the movement of said time element for opening saidcircuit.

3. In a; time-switch, a. rotary time-ele ment; a motor for rotating saidtime element; a governor for controlling the rate of rotation of saidtime-element; a graduated dial for indicating the timed displacementofsaid time-element; a trigger for holding said time-element set indisplacement in any one of variously timed positions; an electriccircuit normally open; means operating rotation of said time-element toopen said circuit.

4:. In a time-switch, a rotary time-element; a motor for rotating saidtime element; a governor for controlling the rate of rotation of saidtime-element; a graduated dialfor indicating the timed displacement ofsaid time-element; a trigger for holding said time-element set indisplacement in any one of variously timed positions; an electriccircuit normally open; means operating upon the actuation of saidtrigger in releasing said time element to close said circuit; and meansautomatically operated upon the rotation of said time-element to opensaid circuit at a second point.

5. In an adjustable time switch, an escapernent gear train; a springmotor for driving said gear train; a notched disk mechanically connectedwith said gear train and operable to place said spring motor undertension when rotated in one direction and when released to rotate withsaid gear train; a pointer and graduated dial indicating the rotaryposition of said disk; releasable means oooperating with said notcheddisk for holding it against rotation in any one'of various positionscorresponding to said notches; and circuit controlling means operableupon the complete rotation of said disk by said spring motor.

6'. An adjustable time-switch for closing a circuit at the instant ofactuation and for opening it at the expiration of accurately measuredsmall time-intervals comprising so two normally open circuit-closers; atimemeasurer; a means for causing one circuitcloser to close and forpredetermining among any one of various time-intervals the time intervalthroughout which said circuit is-to be closed, comprising a trigger forgripping said time-measurer and holding it set for operation throughoutthe particular predetermined time-interval; means for releasing saidtrigger and for simultaneously closing said second circuit-closer; andmeans operated upon the completion of the predetermined time-intervalfor opening said first circuit-closer.

7. In a time-switch a time-element; means tending to drive saidtime-element; one or more detents each corresponding to a distincttime-interval; a trigger for engaging one of said detents at a time; aswitch arm associated with said trigger; and means for giving a quickmovement to said arm and trigger comprising a manual actuator, andresilient means interposed between said actuator and said arm.

in witness whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. A. WINTER. ROBERT KLETT. Witnesses ALEXANDER KAsnNnz, liiIGHAEL J.FLYNN.

